On the 13th May 2015 the Corben family launched the Campaign for “Stop! Don’t Prop” with the support of Hannah’s Foundation.
The QLD campaign focuses on the current statistics of back yard pool drownings, along with the inadequate supervision of visitors children to properties that have had propped opened pool gates and breaching such creates a non compliance. Such non compliance has taken young lives which could have been prevented.
Since 2013, 13 children under four years of age have lost their lives because of propped open pool gates. Supervision of these children was delegated to either: 1 – another adult (other than a parent), 2 – another sibling or 3 – no supervision responsibility was delegated.
The name William’s Law (use #justiceforwillsy #stopdontprop) comes from the tragedy of William Corben, aged 4. His parents Hayley and Rob Corben want you all to know who their son is and why their tragedy is important to advocate and educate.
William’s Law
A simple play date turned to tragedy on the 28th February 2015. No active supervision was in a place and a pool gate was propped open allowing multiple children access to the pool. William’s parents were not aware that the owners of the house across the street had let the children into the pool area. William was not in his swimmers, instead stripping off his clothes and getting into the pool in his underwear. Will’s parents were only 25m across the road at their own home gardening in the front yard, unaware that their children were let into the pool.
That day, William was found under a pool toy and was rushed to hospital fighting for life. His parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support on the 4th March 2015.
Currently there is no consequence under the QLD Legislation for propping open a pool gate, nor breaching any part of pool legislation when a drowning occurs. Coroners in two states have agreed and recommended a criminal charge for breaches to pool safety. The Foundation believes and supports this recommendation by both Coroners Paul McMahon and Karen Stafford.
Hannah’s Foundation is advocating the Stop! Don’t Prop Campaign on social and print media. Every pool owner MUST know and understand their responsibility of what safety means and if that safety is breached than a consequence must occur.
Please follow the Stop! Don’t Prop campaign. See Below for the Media Campaign and Social Media links
Use Hashtags #Williamslaw #justiceforwillsy #stopdontprop
